by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First
Authorities say they have talked with the man who reportedly made serious threats to Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George and her office staff that caused them to begin working from home and required increased security at the Edward J. Costello Courthouse in Burlington last week.
The man, who has known mental health issues, was found by police late Thursday morning, but was not taken into custody, officials said.
Burlington Police reported they released him after he was screened by two mental health workers. The man claimed he had no firearms, had no memory of making any threats and did not intend to harm himself, Police Chief Jon Murad said.
“Officers then left the scene. Members of the Street Outreach team remained with the person after officers departed in order to create a plan for addressing his mental health needs,” Murad said.
The 51-year-old suspect from Burlington did not respond to a phone message left for him by Vermont News First seeking comment.
The suspect has had issues specifically with George, reportedly over a Family Court matter, and the levels of threats escalated on Thursday to include her staff, officials said.
One report said the man had made a direct threat to George, while Murad said a lieutenant with the Department of Motor Vehicles reported he had received a phone call from the man about 8 a.m., and the suspect had made disturbing comments about some pending court cases.
“The person made concerning statements about obtaining a firearm and going to the courthouse, specifically threatening the office of the Chittenden County State’s Attorney,” and George by name, Murad told Vermont News First.
George did not respond to a cellphone message seeking comment.
The DMV Lieutenant, believed to be former Burlington Police Sgt. Dan Merchand, alerted his old department shortly after 9:30 p.m. He also called State’s Attorney George.
A major presence of extra law enforcement, including at least nine Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department members, including Sheriff Dan Gamelin, flooded the courthouse mid-Thursday morning. The extra protection was noticeable to the general public attending court hearings or passing by the courthouse in downtown Burlington.
The deputy sheriffs helped secure the perimeter of the 4-story building until the suspect could be found and remained on site after.
Gamelin’s staff walked all the members of the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s office to their vehicles, and they were allowed to work from home remotely for the rest of Thursday and all day Friday, Annie Noonan, a spokesperson for the Vermont Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs.
Noonan said she expressed her concern to Gamelin about the safety of the personnel and asked him to provide protection so they could safely leave the building. She said a decision was made to allow them to work from home on Friday.
Murad said police learned after the fact that the state’s attorney’s office had been evacuated.
Vermont State Buildings and General Services and the Vermont Judiciary Security Office worked on the case. Vermont State Police, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office also were among those contacted.
As the incident unfolded, Vermont Court Administrator Teri Corsones happened to be headed to the Burlington courthouse, which houses the criminal, family and environmental divisions, along with some state offices, including George’s.
Corsones said a request was made to have a trespass order issued to the suspect prohibiting from being at the courthouse except for any of his court hearings. Burlington Police served the notice.
Murad said he also directed the department’s Domestic Violence Prevention Officer, who had done an extensive background check on the man during the day Thursday, to seek an Extreme Risk Protection Order from the court. The court order allowed law enforcement to search the man’s home for guns at about 8:30 Thursday night, the chief said. There were no guns found.
The chief said the Howard Center Street Outreach members connected again with the man on Friday and will continue to monitor the situation.